The Employers & Manufacturers Association says a study which casts doubt on the benefits of a Trans-Pacific Partnership is misleading, narrow, and unbalanced.
The study, published by the Sustainability Council, says the gains of the Pacific-wide trade deal have been wildly overstated and it's unlikely there would be any benefit to New Zealand.
But the Employers & Manufacturers Association says the report is misleading and based on speculation.
Acting chief executive, Bruce Goldsworthy, says judgments can't be made when the deal's clauses are not yet known.
He says the report's conclusions don't reflect the experience from any previous free trade agreements.